The Cambridge Low Down

THE JOURNEY: Abbey Stadium to Fratton Park: About 130 miles, should take less than 3 hours.

LAST TIME OUT: * Pompey played Notts County on Monday. Bit of a quiet affair, not much to report. Oh, there was the whole promotion thing but we don't go on about it! Jamal Lowe came off the bench and scored twice to begin Pompey's ascension through the league with a 3-1 win. * Cambridge kept their fight for a play-off spot on track with a 1-0 win over Exeter. Leon Legge scored the only goal of the game to move to within a point of the Top 7. * The return fixture at Cambridge back in October resulted in a 1-0 win to Pompey. Burgess pinged a 50 yard ball over the top and Chaplin got on the end of it and steered it into the corner. Linganzi saw red for a nasty challenge with half an hour to play, but Pompey held on for 3 points.

POMPEY STATS: * Pompey's win on Monday saw them win promotion for the first time in 14 years, almost to the day. Todorov's goal against Burnley and subsequent dive into the Fratton End was the last time Pompey moved up a league. * That win means its 7 wins from the last 9 for Pompey - Only Accrington can boast a better form in the division * Jamal Lowe's brace made it 23 goals for Pompey in the last 15 minutes of matches this season, the highest in England. In addition we have only conceded 5 goals in the final 15 minutes of matches. * Pompey have scored 15 goals from the bench this season, more than any other club in England. * Top Scorers: Naismith/Roberts (10) Chaplin (8)

CAMBRIDGE STATS: * After a torrid start to the season where Cambridge spent 6 weeks bottom of the league and failed to win any of their first 8 games, Shaun Derry has turned around the form of the U's and is now just a point of a play-off place. * Cambridge have won 3 of their last 4 games, and have only lost twice in their last 8 away games, despite only scoring more than 1 goal on two occasions. * Cambridge 'keeper Will Norris saved 5 of his first 6 penalties he faced this season, including two in one game against Accrington. He has since gone on to concede the last 4 however. * The U's have only won 83 corners in 21 away games (3.95 per game) this season, whereas Pompey have won 150 in their 21 home games (7.14 per game). * Top Scorers: Luke Berry (15) Leon Legge (6) Medy Elito (5)

HEAD TO HEAD (Courtesy of Pompeyrama.com): * Pompey have an almost impeccable record against Cambridge, with 13 wins, 3 draws and just 1 defeat dating back to 1977. * In league encounters, Pompey have won the 10 of the last 11 meetings, scoring 30 goals and conceding just 6. * Last season Pompey did the double in League two, with a 3-1 win at Cambridge thanks to a Legge own goal and a brace from Tubbs. They followed this with a 2-1 win at Fratton - McNulty and Webster getting the goals that day.

PLAYED FOR US/PLAYED FOR "THEM": * James Dunne - The central midfielder spent a season as a first team regular but was shipped out on loan the following season, and was part of Cookie's clean out once he took command. * Adam McGurk - Who could forget that haircut? McGurk was signed by Cook and spent a year at Fratton, appearing in more than half of Pompey's fixtures and he scored what turned out to be the winner against Championship side Derby in the League Cup on his debut. His league form was not as prolific, netting just two goals in 27 games and he moved onto Cambridge at the end of the season. * Shaun Derry - The U's boss also graced the pitch at Fratton what was now 2 promotions ago. Signing for Pulis in 2000 he went on to make 49 appearances for Pompey, before Redknapp came in and had a clear out, with Derry being one of the many casualties.

ONE TO WATCH: * Luke Berry - 15 goals is usually enough to see a player as a threat, but when you consider this lad is a midfielder it's all the more impressive. Not the biggest of lads, but has great technique with the ball at his feet and can hit a ball as sweet as the best of them.

PREDICTION: * After we won promotion to the Premier League we went to Ipswich (I think) and got spanked 3-0. I have no doubt the players would have had Tuesday's training session either called off or significantly reduced, and Wednesday was probably a slow day too. There will be hints of a hangover on Saturday but with the carnival like atmosphere of the crowd I expect the players to rally and make the most of their first opportunity to play at Fratton with no pressure on them. Expect a free-flowing game with plenty of goals - 4-2 Pompey.

LAST 2 GAMES (and their current League Position): 29/04 - Mansfield Town (A) - 12th 06/05 - Cheltenham Town (H) - 21st

Comments

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Interesting game. They certainly need a result & will have a go. Depending on which Pompey turns up it could go any way. Taking my partner & my daughter as I thought this might have been the game to take us up.
I hadn't planned for Luton to mess up. Glad they did & enjoyed being at Notts County on Monday.